McCalls 5791

I still haven't gotten any good pictures of Marie in her Easter dress.  I completely missed the boat with taking them Easter morning before we left and the few snapshots I got after church, she has was so grumpy looking...anyway, the pattern was McCalls 5791.

(Mom, Katie, and Miss Grumpy!)
 

I love this dress!  It's has a super full skirt and a few different options for personalizing.  I made the sleeveless option and added tucks to the front bodice to give it a bit of design detail.  Overall, I wanted it to be pretty simple because of the fabric...I adore the fabric...a soft pastel vintage style rose print.  I felt like it really made the dress.

(The only happy picture I could get was when she was in the bouncy house after the church potluck. She thought that was amazing!  Fabric is a Tanya Whelan print from Marie Madeline Fabrics.)

 I finished the dancewear shrugs I was working on for my teacher friend.  Oh my goodness...my new coverstitch made sewing this material a breeze!  I couldn't believe the difference it made in hemming around the tops and bottoms of these...and they look so professional!!  Now that I've finished these, I'm looking forward to working on some projects for myself and the kids using knits.

Last, I have to share a couple of kid pictures!  This week we were so blessed by our neighbors who gave us this swing for the kids...they are in heaven!! First thing after breakfast, we have to go outside and swing!  The swing on the left is just the right heigth for Elliot to get onto it by himself and even swing himself a bit.  Of course, he prefers Mom to push him. =)

Happy Spring!!

Jessica

(Elliot has been spending lots of time playing with his little tractors in the back of my little garden bed. I am planting herbs in the front part of it, and the back part is his "dirt box" for now.)

And the winner is....

Alisa!

I wish I could make a set of pattern weights for each of you who commented on my birthday giveaway. I've enjoyed visiting all--yes, all--your blogs and catching a glimpse into your lives.

Alisa, from Making More with Less, is the winner of the pattern weights. Visit Alisa's blog that she shares with her sister Suzanne to see all the pretty things they make. Alisa, I really like the red "Miss Mary" dress that you sewed for your daughter last month.

Email your address to me and I'll pop these pattern weights in the mail.

Happy Sewing,


And just because I have a hard time writing a post without a picture, here is one of my family (missing just one daughter) taken on Easter Sunday by a very talented young lady, Tyna. I love the bright colors--this picture reminds me of spring and colored eggs. :)

Review of Simplicity 2701

Pattern Description:
Misses' Jacket with front, collar and sleeve variations and skirt.

Pattern Sizing:
Sizes 4, 6, 8,10, and 12. I made a straight size 10.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
This is the first time I've used a Project Runway pattern, and I was pleased with the in-depth instructions.

Fabric Used:
I used a textured cotton woven from Joann's.

Changes made:
-one button on the front instead of two
-lengthened the back facing as mentioned below

Construction and Conclusion:
I liked everything about the style the first time I saw it on Sharon's review, and I knew I wanted to make one in red.

I cut out this jacket 5 months ago, before Christmas. However, it got pushed to the back burner, and I didn't make much progress on it. Every time I walked into my sewing room, the pile of red fabric mocked me. Well, Easter has come and gone, and I knew I couldn't sew another thing before finishing the jacket. At this point, I decided to simply serge the seams instead of binding them as the pattern instructed. I just needed to get the jacket off my work table!

THE BEST CHANGE I made to the jacket was actually a suggestion that Lori made in her review of her lovely jacket: I lengthened the back facing to cover up the back seam and to conceal the top of the pleat. Why the pattern maker didn't do this in the first place is beyond me as it makes the jacket so much nicer on the inside.

I half wish I had taken the time to bind the seams, but really, I just needed to get this thing done. I'm happy with the finished jacket, even with the serged seams and my slightly crooked welt pockets. This was the first time for me to ever make welt pocket openings, so maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself. : ) And yes, there are real pockets under the openings.

I like the button tab on the back, directly above the pleat.

The fabric is a deep red like in this picture.

Happy Sewing,

Giveaway Reminder

Just a few more days until I draw a name for the Birthday Pattern Weights! Leave your comment on this post from a few days ago for your chance to win. Also, if you are a follower of SewChic, leave a second comment telling me so. Don't forget to leave your email address or link to your blog so that I can contact you if you are the winner. I have noticed that several of of the comments do not have any contact information. If you win, I need a way to notify you. :)

Fabric Flower Tutorial

When I decided to add a big flower to Emily's dress, I searched online for a tutorial. Yes, a bazillion fabric flower tutorials can be found on the web, but I didn't find one quite like the way I made mine. So, ta-da, here is Fabric Flower Tutorial Bazillion-and-One! Maybe somebody will find it helpful. :)

Step #1: Cut fabric into a 2.5" x 45" strip using a rotary cutter.

Step #2: Turn under both short ends and press.

Step #3: Press fabric lengthwise.

Step #4: With a needle and strong thread sew gathering stitches along
the long, raw edge of fabric strip. I used upholstery thread.

Step #5: Pull up gathering stitches, being careful not to twist the fabric strip.

Step #6: Form the gathered strip into a flower.

Step #7: Secure the layers together with a number of stitches.

Step #8: Sew a button, flower, or some other do-dad on the front.
I decided not to use this ribbon rose but used a button instead (next picture).

Step #9: Last step, and I forgot to take a picture of it, but sew a pin-back or a safety pin onto the back. To prevent the flower from sagging, don't sew the pin at center back, but sew it upwards of center.

This could also be made into a hair clip instead of a brooch.

I am very happy with the way this Miss Madeline pattern came out. For it's simplicity and ease of sewing, I think it turned out quite beautiful. I will definitely be make more dresses from this pattern.

happy sewing,

The Verdict : L.O.V.E.

~The Dress is Finished and I Love It~

The Pattern: Quick and Easy! "Miss Madeline" from The Handmade Dress
The Fabric: "Love" by Amy Butler
The Flower: Tutorial Coming Soon!!!!!!
The Verdict: L.O.V.E.



Note: I just found out that Wee Share is hosting a giveaway of the COMPLETE line of patterns from The Handmade Dress. The Madeline pattern is the only pattern I have from the lineup, so you can be sure that I signed up! I would love to make the Miss Mary dress next!

Birthday Pattern Weights

***This Giveaway is Now Closed to more Comments.***
A winner will be Announced Soon.

Today is my birthday! Following Trudy's example, I am giving a birthday gift to one randomly chosen reader of Sew Chic. Your gift is a set of pattern weights, made by me.

The weights are covered in brown fabric from Moda designer Sandy Gervais. You will receive a set of two large and two medium sized weights. The large weights are 4.5" in diameter and bigger than the metal washers you will find in your typical hardware store. The medium weights are 3.5" in diameter.

To win this set of weights, leave a comment on this post telling me if you use pattern weights when sewing or if you use pins. Or tell me what your favorite sewing notion is. For an extra entry, become a follower of Sew Chic and leave another comment to that effect. I'll close this giveaway next week, sometime between April 10-12, and I'll announce the winner then. Because these weights are heavy, I can only ship to addresses in the United States.

More pattern weights are also available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Happy Sewing!